Danakir

You're the real MVP! Makes me wish I could say more than just thanks. I've looked at it myself and you're completely right. So that's case closed. I do wish there was an easy way to access this information though, cuz this is super handy to have.

I was testing slow movement powers for the purpose of a build I'm working on when I stumbled on what appears to be some kind of bug and/or undocumented feature involving the Bronze Strongman line of minions in the Carnival of Shadows. They seem completely immune to debuffs to their running speed, despite having no ostensible resistance to said debuffs and the debuffs showing normally on their stat screen when using the power analyzer. Even with several orders of magnitude more speed debuffs than their maximum speed they still remain at their normal speed. For the sake of further testing the behavior I used the same powers on the rest of the Carnival of Shadows enemies and none of them displayed similar behavior. This leaves me somewhat bewildered. Is the Bronze Strongman meant to be completely immune to slow movement type effects? If not, then something has clearly gone wrong. I'd very much welcome some confirmation either way as both individual testing and scrutinizing the power analyzer didn't provide me any answers as to why this unique behavior is happening.

Oh wow, thanks so much! You're the real MVP here. I've been looking high and low for actual data on how 'doublehit' actually works. This is so handy! That said, do you know whether moves like Radioactive Smash and Devastating Blow actually count as AoEs for the purpose of PPM? They're both listed that way presumably because of their interaction with the 'Contamination' mechanic. Also, in your estimation, which would you say between Radial and Core better suits Rad as a set?

Be sure to post your build if you find a way to do so. I'd love to compare slotting, comparing notes with other people is how we improve the most. That said, thanks for the advice. I already have a macro for combining everything into red insps that I abuse liberally.

That's an interesting build. Although personally I prefer having a bit more versatility since I still sometimes take her out for non-farming purposes. Granted, I might be paying a bit extra in terms of expensive IOs for the privilege but it's worth it to me. I'm basically taking a money-is-no-object type of approach. That said, one thing that's really caught my attention is you using the Radial Assault hybrid. Why's that? Are you typically at the damage cap so much that the Core is not useful? Or is it something else that compels you to go with Radial? I have it on my Grav/Time Controller and I've never been impressed by it.

I enjoy it quite a lot. I've got a much cheaper build I've been using to farm for all my other characters on the same character and she performs very well by my own reckoning. I typically finish a map in around 5:30 to 6:30, depending on how seriously I take it and whether I work hard to combine reds and stay as close to the damage cap as I possibly can. That said, it certainly doesn't feel weak or lacking. Spines/Fire is likely going to still be 'faster' by some amount at the very highest level, but it's not going to be by an order of magnitude. It's fair, by my own accounting, to say that Rad/Fire is a viable alternative especially if you enjoy the playstyle more. Just don't expect performance to match up perfectly. Very comparable but not equal is how I'd describe it.

So I've decided I wanna take my farmer to the next level. Mostly for the sake of achieving the greatest possible efficiency. I figure it might help other people that are doing the same build and are trying to maximize their rewards to post it here. More importantly, I'm not 100% confident this is the most efficient version of the build that could exist. So I'd very much welcome any and all comments and criticism. Of course, I'm also happy to explain away some of my choices if necessary. Villain Plan by Mids' Villain Designer 1.962 http://www.cohplanner.com/ Click this DataLink to open the build! Pele: Level 50 Magic Brute Primary Power Set: Radiation Melee Secondary Power Set: Fiery Aura Power Pool: Leaping Power Pool: Leadership Power Pool: Fighting Power Pool: Speed Ancillary Pool: Mu Mastery Villain Profile: Level 1: Radioactive Smash -- Hct-Dmg(A), Hct-Dmg/Rchg(3), Hct-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(3), Hct-Acc/Rchg(5), Hct-Dmg/EndRdx(5) Level 1: Fire Shield -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(7), Ags-ResDam(9), StdPrt-ResDam/Def+(25) Level 2: Blazing Aura -- SprAvl-Acc/Dmg(A), SprAvl-Dmg/EndRdx(11), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(17), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(17), SprAvl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(19), SprAvl-Rchg/KDProc(19) Level 4: Combat Jumping -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A) Level 6: Healing Flames -- Prv-Heal(A), Prv-Absorb%(7), Prv-Heal/EndRdx(21), Prv-EndRdx/Rchg(21), Prv-Heal/Rchg(23), Prv-Heal/Rchg/EndRdx(23) Level 8: Maneuvers -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A) Level 10: Temperature Protection -- GldArm-3defTpProc(A) Level 12: Radiation Siphon -- CrsImp-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(A), CrsImp-Dmg/EndRdx(13), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(15), CrsImp-Dmg/Rchg(29), CrsImp-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(29) Level 14: Tactics -- GssSynFr--Build%(A) Level 16: Plasma Shield -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(31), Ags-ResDam(33) Level 18: Irradiated Ground -- Obl-Dmg(A), Obl-Dmg/Rchg(31), Obl-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(33), Obl-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(33), Obl-%Dam(34), AchHee-ResDeb%(34) Level 20: Fusion -- RechRdx-I(A) Level 22: Consume -- MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg(A), MckBrt-Taunt(25), MckBrt-Taunt/Rchg/Rng(31), MckBrt-Acc/Rchg(39), MckBrt-Rchg(39), MckBrt-Taunt/Rng(43) Level 24: Boxing -- Acc-I(A) Level 26: Tough -- Ags-ResDam/EndRdx(A), Ags-ResDam(27), Ags-ResDam/EndRdx/Rchg(27) Level 28: Burn -- Arm-Dmg(A), Arm-Dmg/Rchg(36), Arm-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(36), Arm-Acc/Rchg(37), Arm-Dam%(37), FuroftheG-ResDeb%(37) Level 30: Weave -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A), Ksm-ToHit+(34), Ksm-Def/EndRdx(36) Level 32: Atom Smasher -- SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBrtFur-Rech/Fury(40), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(42), SprBrtFur-Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), SprBrtFur-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx/Rchg(42), TchofLadG-%Dam(50) Level 35: Fiery Embrace -- RechRdx-I(A) Level 38: Electrifying Fences -- SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg(A), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(39), SprFrzBls-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(40), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(40), SprFrzBls-Dmg/EndRdx(43), SprFrzBls-Rchg/ImmobProc(43) Level 41: Hasten -- RechRdx-I(A), RechRdx-I(46) Level 44: Ball Lightning -- Rgn-Dmg(A), Rgn-Dmg/Rchg(45), Rgn-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(45), Rgn-Acc/Rchg(45), Rgn-Dmg/EndRdx(46), Ann-ResDeb%(46) Level 47: Devastating Blow -- SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg(A), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx(48), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/EndRdx(48), SprBlsCol-Acc/Dmg/Rchg(48), SprBlsCol-Dmg/EndRdx/Acc/Rchg(50), SprBlsCol-Rchg/HoldProc(50) Level 49: Vengeance -- LucoftheG-Rchg+(A) Level 1: Brawl -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Dash -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Slide -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Quick -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Rush -- Empty(A) Level 1: Prestige Power Surge -- Empty(A) Level 1: Fury Level 1: Sprint -- Empty(A) Level 2: Rest -- Empty(A) Level 4: Ninja Run Level 2: Swift -- Flight-I(A) Level 2: Health -- Pnc-Heal/+End(A), NmnCnv-Regen/Rcvry+(9), Mrc-Rcvry+(11) Level 2: Hurdle -- Jump-I(A) Level 2: Stamina -- PrfShf-End%(A), EndMod-I(13), EndMod-I(15) Level 50: Assault Core Embodiment Level 50: Ageless Core Epiphany Level 50: Reactive Core Flawless Interface Level 50: Musculature Core Paragon ------------

Oh that's a big relief. Would Mercs be decent with Force Field as a secondary or would I really want to grab Traps instead to focus on debuffing resistances?

So I've seen it everywhere that Mercs are basically hot garbage. Which is heartbreaking because I have a *really* good thematic concept that cannot work without that powerset. I'm hoping that judicious play and the right secondary might take them from dumpster tier to decent. But before I make the effort of actually going to do that, I'd need advice and the confirmation of people who actually know what they're doing. So, forum, please help me out. Is there no hope and I'm fighting a losing battle or is there this One Weird Trick that'll make the primary not suck quite so much?